5 Important Winter Car Tips You Need to Know About
July 10th, 2020 by Fix Auto USA
Winter car care is important, regardless of your vehicle. Because, if you devote the necessary time, resources, and energy to protect your car in cold weather, you can keep your vehicle running long into the future.
5 Essential Winter Car Tips
Here are five tips to help keep your car in pristine condition during winter:
1. Assess Your Car Battery
Cold weather car battery issues are preventable if you take a proactive approach to identify and mitigate these problems. Your car battery’s performance may decline in cold temperatures, so you should check out the battery to ensure it is well-equipped to handle winter weather. If your car battery’s expiration date has passed, you should replace the battery. Also, you can get your car battery’s performance tested at an automotive repair shop.
2. Replace Your Car’s Wiper Blades
When it comes to your car’s wiper blades, it is better to err on the side of caution. The performance of your wiper blades can begin to deteriorate within six months after the first use, and your wiper blades should be replaced at least twice a year. If it has been six months or longer since you last replaced your wiper blades, you should replace them once again. Or, if you are uncertain about when your wiper blades were most recently replaced, you should err on the side of caution and replace them.
3. Evaluate Your Tires
No one wants their car to get stuck in the snow during winter. You cannot control the weather, but you can pick up winter tires that help your car grip the road in snow, ice, and other winter weather conditions. Winter tires can be installed before the start of the season and replaced with your vehicle’s standard tires at the season’s conclusion. You may also want to purchase all-season tires that are highly rated to perform in harsh weather conditions in lieu of winter tires. Meanwhile, if you purchase all-season or winter tires, you should have all four tires replaced at the same time.
4. Clean Your Car’s Exterior
The best way to protect car paint in winter typically involves washing your vehicle frequently. That way, you can safeguard your car’s paint against salt that otherwise can cause rust. You should also apply a coat of wax to your vehicle. This coat offers an extra layer of protection for your car’s exterior, so your vehicle’s paint is safeguarded against gravel, grime, and salt, which can cause long-lasting damage.
5. Park Your Car in a Garage or Driveway
Plows and snow trucks may drive past your car at different points throughout winter — and they may dump snow or salt on your vehicle. Thus, you should keep your car parked in a garage or driveway as much as possible. This helps limit the risk that plows and snow trucks inadvertently damage your car’s paint or accidentally hit your vehicle.
The Bottom Line on Winter Car Care
Many drivers dread winter, but there are many things you can do to get your car ready for the season. If you prepare your vehicle for winter, you can keep your car safe throughout the season. Plus, you can ensure that your vehicle will run properly throughout winter, and avoid the risk of costly, time-intensive vehicle repairs down the line.
At Fix Auto, we want to help you get your car ready for winter. We offer extensive auto body repair services year-round so you can maximize your car’s performance season after season. To learn more or to schedule an appointment, please contact us online or call us today at 1-800-INFO-FIX.
This blog post was contributed by Fix Auto Chula Vista, a leading industry expert and collision repair shop servicing customers in Chula Vista and San Diego County neighborhood.
